Not 'doing' Santa - part two

mumps

So we have the choice of Santa Claus, aka St Nicholas the patron saint of children or a fairy who we ask for lots of lovely presents for me. I think I will stick with the stories I told my children of the good Bishop who gave presents secretly to poor children, I was actually really pleased when my youngest grandchild visited us for Christmas and told me the story of St Nicholas which he had been told at school. I am so happy that this has passed to the next generation and glad that my grandchildren didn't ask for lots of presents. Their biggest thrill was the day we took them out and they chose presents for their parents that they paid for with their pocket money. The spirit of Christmas is about giving.

Did anyone see the little girl on the news today who helped her mom open the family cafe and do free Christmas lunches for 35 homeless people. I thought it was a really moving story particularly as she did it for her father who died this year.

I hope the OP can think of something better to say next year as it wasn't a great rhyme and I am glad that her little one had some magic whoever it was from. I do think calling it a Santa sack is confusing.

Northern_Princess

skintchick wrote: »

I thought, seeing as the other thread was so hotly debated, people might be interested in how Christmas without Santa worked for us?

My DD is 3.5. We have told her Father Christmas is a story, that he is not real but people like to dress up as him.

So this year we did her what we called a Santa Sack, but she knew the presents were from Mummy and Daddy.

I am confused! You say you told her FC was a story yet you had a Santa sack? What is the point of having a Santa sack (which in my world comes from 'Santa') then tell her they came from mummy and daddy? Perhaps I am missing something but we got a few presents from Santa and others from my mum and dad.

On Christmas Eve she chose where she wanted to hang it, then we sprinkled imaginary magic dust over the bag while saying 'Magic, magic, one, two, three, Bring lots of lovely presents for me'.[/

So you do not agree with your daughter believing in an imaginary man but it is ok for her to believe in imaginary magic dust that will bring her presents?

Not a great rhyme but I made it up on the spot! Will work on something better for next year.

You are continuing to carry on after the hoo hah you created on the other thread? :rotfl: Pot and kettle come to mind!

In the morning, she was VERY excited to see it was full. She happily opened them all (not actually that many, the bag is smaller than a pillowcase) and was delighted.

Duh!! She was excited as most young children as as 'Santa' had been. I wonder why you mentioned the size of bag?

There didn't seem to be any loss of magic or excitement or enjoyment (reference other thread).

I do want a better poem to be part of the tradition (ideally without the word 'lots' in) but I was really happy and so was DD. She certainly did not seem to be missing out on anything by knowing it was me and Oh who did it.

Just thought some of those who followed the other thread might be interested as there were a lot of accusations of 'taking all the joy and magic out of Christmas'

Personally, I think you are an attention seeker. Why post a thread KNOWING the reaction you would get?

Santa is real, even NASA track him

janninew

Just read the whole other thread - wow!! Took me ages!

I just asked my OH what he would think if I were to tell our Daughter (when she is 3 years old) that Father Christmas didn't exist - the look on his face was priceless! I had to explain very quickly about this thread as he looked so horrified!

I think it is entirely up to the OP what she tells her young child, but I do feel there will be some repercussions in the near future when she starts school and Christmas comes around. Also as others have said I really son't understand the 'santa sack' at all, shouldn't it be the 'fairy sack?!'

notanewuser

janninew wrote: »

Just read the whole other thread - wow!! Took me ages!

I just asked my OH what he would think if I were to tell our Daughter (when she is 3 years old) that Father Christmas didn't exist - the look on his face was priceless! I had to explain very quickly about this thread as he looked so horrified!

I think it is entirely up to the OP what she tells her young child, but I do feel there will be some repercussions in the near future when she starts school and Christmas comes around. Also as others have said I really son't understand the 'santa sack' at all, shouldn't it be the 'fairy sack?!'

You're missing the point. As I said about a hundred times on the other thread, it's not about telling anybody that Santa isn't real, it's about not telling he children that he is. My daughter is/will be exposed to the idea by others (as she will about religion) and it is UP TO HER what she chooses to believe. We aren't pushing religion or Santa/tooth fairy/Easter bunny on her, but she may still choose to believe herself IF SHE WANTS TO.

Treevo

notanewuser wrote: »

You're missing the point. As I said about a hundred times on the other thread, it's not about telling anybody that Santa isn't real, it's about not telling he children that he is. My daughter is/will be exposed to the idea by others (as she will about religion) and it is UP TO HER what she chooses to believe. We aren't pushing religion or Santa/tooth fairy/Easter bunny on her, but she may still choose to believe herself IF SHE WANTS TO.

Which will be a bit pointless come Christmas morning after she's chosen to believe and dear old mummy and daddy haven't bothered doing anything that Father Christmas would have done. She'll then wonder why he didn't visit her. All because you've got some precious notion of being the perfect yummy mummy. I've news for you sweetypie, it doesn't matter what you do, at 14 your daughter's going to tell you that she hates you and slam her bedroom door just like everyone else's.

notanewuser

Treevo wrote: »

Which will be a bit pointless come Christmas morning after she's chosen to believe and dear old mummy and daddy haven't bothered doing anything that Father Christmas would have done. She'll then wonder why he didn't visit her. All because you've got some precious notion of being the perfect yummy mummy. I've news for you sweetypie, it doesn't matter what you do, at 14 your daughter's going to tell you that she hates you and slam her bedroom door just like everyone else's.

As I plan to talk to my daughter on a daily basis (at least) I expect we'll get a bit of notice if she does want to believe. Especially as Xmas currently starts in July.

And I'd be hugely disappointed if the doors aren't slammed off their hinges during the teenage years. It's an extremely important developmental phase. I was a complete horror. :rotfl:

bagpuss38

Treevo wrote: »

I've news for you sweetypie, it doesn't matter what you do, at 14 your daughter's going to tell you that she hates you and slam her bedroom door just like everyone else's.

:rotfl::T brilliant!

janninew

notanewuser wrote: »

You're missing the point. As I said about a hundred times on the other thread, it's not about telling anybody that Santa isn't real, it's about not telling he children that he is. My daughter is/will be exposed to the idea by others (as she will about religion) and it is UP TO HER what she chooses to believe. We aren't pushing religion or Santa/tooth fairy/Easter bunny on her, but she may still choose to believe herself IF SHE WANTS TO.

I'm not missing the point, the OP on this thread told her Daughter that Santa is a story and not real! I wasn't referring to you at all, certainly no need to shout!

Lois_E

Wow - I see what lostinrates means about people being so critical of other people's parenting decisions. Personally I think the "not believing in Santa" brigade should be treated with tolerance (and treat others with tolerance) like any other religious minority.*

Some years ago I spent Christmas with a family whose young kids knew (had found out? had been told?) that Father Christmas was "pretend". They still did all the stuff - hung up stockings etc - and they seemed just as excited as "believing" kids when they found their stuff in the morning. My experience as an adult watching them was that it didn't seem to make much difference to things - it was just the usual "adults pretending and kids getting excited" routine. I think the parents did make a big point of telling them not to tell any other kids that it was "all just pretend" though, which I think was important.

Anyway, Happy New Year to all, whatever you believe. :wave:

* Edit: It's been pointed out that this wording is misleading. Sorry. I'm not trying to imply that belief in Santa is a religion. Please see my post a little further down the page for clarification. Thanks.

Person_one

notanewuser wrote: »

You're missing the point.

De ja vu...